Buckeye Gap Trail–Middle Prong Road, 3 sights
15.3 mi · ▲ 2,897 ft · 6 hr 33 min
Buckeye Gap Trail–Middle Prong Road, 3 sights is a 15.3-mile out-and-back in Middle Prong Wilderness near Balsam Grove, NC. It climbs 2,897 ft, with sections as steep as 26% grade, and is mostly dirt. It scores 51/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: backcountry feel.
Elevation
Getting there
Directions
Buckeye Gap Trail–Middle Prong Road, 3 sights
15.3 mi · ▲ 2,897 ft · 6 hr 33 min
Elevation 3,616–5,792 ft
Out & Back · Middle Prong Wilderness
Trailhead: Mountains-to-Sea Trail · 35.30381, -82.90912
Weather Sep 5: sunrise 7:07 AM · sunset 7:56 PM
Parking lot at the trailhead
- Start on Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading W.
- 2.7 miSharp right onto Mt Hardy Trail, heading W.
- 50 ftTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Buckeye Gap Trail, heading NW.
- 2.8 miBear right onto Middle Prong Road, heading N.
- 1.7 miReach Mt Hardy Trail, then turn around and head back the way you came.
- 1.7 miBear left onto Buckeye Gap Trail, heading S.
- 2.8 miTurn left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading SW.
- 0.5 miTurn right onto Mt Hardy Trail, heading S.
- 50 ftSharp left onto Mountains-to-Sea Trail, heading S.
- 2.7 miArrive back at the trailhead.
Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.
Trail surface
Weather
Sunset
The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.5 mi in (~79 min). Leave by 6:17 PM for the 7:56 PM sunset. Back at your car by 9:12 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.
Good to know
- Parking lot at the trailhead
More from Mountains-to-Sea Trail Trailhead
- Devils Courthouse & Devils Courthouse Viewpoint via Mountains-to-Sea Trail 4.2 mi · ▲ 637 ft
- View Devils Courthouse (MP 422.4) & Devils Courthouse Trail via Mountains-to-Sea Trail 4.4 mi · ▲ 683 ft
- Mountains-to-Sea Trail 5.3 mi · ▲ 660 ft
- Mount Hardy & Mt Hardy Trail via Mountains-to-Sea Trail 6.5 mi · ▲ 990 ft
- Split Falls–Flat Laurel Creek Trail, 3 sights 11.8 mi · ▲ 1,358 ft
- Green Mountain Trail 15.5 mi · ▲ 4,496 ft
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